BY
AKINROPO OLUFEMI
DEMOCRACY DAY – 12/06/2025
JUNE 12 : IN 2015, TINUBU BELIEVED IN DEMOCRACY AND LEAD THE COALITION THAT UNSEATED AND PREVENTED JONATHAN FROM HAVING A SECOND TERM. TODAY, HE HAS SUDDENLY BECOME AN ADVOCATE OF ONE-PARTY SYSTEM AND DOESN’T WANT TO TASTE THE SAME POISON HE FORCED JONATHAN TO DRINK COME 2027. OR CAN HIS PERFORMANCES SO FAR BE COMPARED WITH THAT OF JONATHAN’S* ?
” Our experience over the last 20 years has shown that indeed people must themselves become their own liberators. You cannot wait for somebody else to come and rescue you – Thabo Mbeki. ”
Are Nigerians ready to liberate themselves?. As obscene as it might sound, even after 26 years of adopting and imitating a pestilence called democracy, many Nigerians are still imprudently trapped under the illusion of living a worthwhile life (like real humans) with the same crop of politicians ruling (not leading) them since 1999. It is a universal ideology around the planet that Africans are the most gullible of all when compared with other anthropoids in other continents.
Unequivocally, I’ve always maintained that, there must have been a genetic mental disorder inherently domiciled in the brain of an average African. Consequently, the ability to demystify visible threats, and also respond without hesitating for a second, apparently tends toward infinity (zero). It’s no wonder an average African is seen by the Europeans and white Americans as a black monkey whose primary means of existence grossly depends on banana – stomach infrastructure. While those Europeans and Americans might be seen as racists, they undeniably know one fact for sure : ” an average African don’t belong in their class mentally when it comes to basic reasoning, and majority don’t think like a normal human being “. Perhaps, may be in the future, scientists might succeed in identifying the congenital fissures in Africans’ brains, many of which are often responsible for their myopic opinions, disobliging ideas, and illogical propositions.
Akinropo
Should anyone castigate my pinpointing the fundamental problem of all Africans?. I’m also an African afterall, and I’m as guilty as everyone. Sadly, Nigeria is assumed the giant of Africa, though on paper. It literally means, “if Nigerians don’t change their mindsets first, and force their so-called rulers masquerading as democrats to be responsible for a plethora of atrocities, many of which had been spitefully unleashed on them and their generations over the last 26 years, then other Africans would never follow suit – never. A total revolution of Africa and a complete liberation of Africans can only start with Nigerians. But, are Nigerians ready yet?.
Today is another democracy day. As usual, the president will address Nigerians using good tiding messages garnished with soothing ointments, to cover a series of decaying wounds they are suffering, all of which had been infested by maggots inside. The president’s spokemen and his media teams would have polished their principal’s speech with lies and pharisaic tales capable of hypnotizing Nigerians that the nation is at peace, and above all, that those economic reforms initiated by their principal exactly two years ago when he came into office, are beginning to yield positive results. In their principal’s speech, a memoir encapsulated in perfidies and mendacities that could indoctrinate Nigerians into believing Tinubu’s administration is the best thing to have happened to Nigeria, and that his re-election in 2027 is the most commodious way to facilitate Nigeria’s path to El Dorado, would be embedded. While it is translucently perceptible to even a blind Bartholomew that Nigeria is rotten and might be amputated anytime soon under the tutelage of their principal, they would hoodwink Nigerians with a series of false statistics to support their prejudiced assertions and fabricated shenanigans that Nigeria has tremendously improved like never seen before in the areas of economy, commerce, industry, education, security, infrastructures, electricity, cost of living, etc. For every government that had come and gone since May 29, 1999, the story had always been the same on democracy day. Nigerians had been allowing it, and without remonstrance. Nothing changes today as well.
Gullibly, after hearing a perfectly choreographed scheme written by the president’s spokemen, instead of fact-checking and then translate their findings to the reality being witnessed as a nation, over 70 percent Nigerians, many of whom are more impoverished than a church rat, would begin to celebrate and thereafter go on social media to issue vociferous statements against Tinubu’s political adversaries.
Despite being blighted by poverty and inimitable misery since May 29, 2023, Instead of holding Tinubu responsible for their inability to feed their families, pay rent, fuel their vehicles, pay their kids’ school fees, etc, undoubtedly, they wouldn’t hesitate sparing their tormentor of all his obvious anti-people schemes. Due to religious and tribal affiliations, many Nigerians had been brainwashed into leaving the real culprit but launching a series of coruscating attacks at Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, etc. It is a curse ravaging the brains of over 50 percent Nigerians ; they celebrate their immortal enemies by attacking their critics, and maliciously. Tinubu and his cohorts know this. They don’t need to treat Nigerians like humans before winning in 2027. Or, wouldn’t Tinubu win in 2027 regardless?. It’s a systemic anomaly. Nigerians have demonstrated over the last 26 years that, hunger, poverty, insecurity, unemployment, etc, are basic essentials an average human should have/witness. They wouldn’t hold their rulers responsible – even if their rulers choose to feed on their fleshes and blood while alive like cannibals.
Why should Nigerians celebrate today?. How realistic is it for a sane person who’s rational upstairs to celebrate a democratic dispensation which has brought nothing but hardship, pain, insecurity and poverty?. Or, was Nigeria an asylum and a penitentiary before democracy was adopted in 1999?. I strongly believe that democracy is better than military rule. But reverse is the case in Nigeria. Democracy has sent Nigerians to a total annihilation, and without a hope of redress. Under democracy, Nigeria has retrogressed beyond redemption, and it would take her over 100 years of laborious efforts to get back to where Abacha left it in 1998. Perhaps, the ones assuming I’m a pessimist, should anticipate when a dollar would equate to N20 where Abacha left it. Despite these obvious despicable situations and harrowing pains Nigerian politicians have imposed on Nigerians since 1999, gullible Nigerians are still celebrating today. Who celebrates the day his imminent misery was birthed?. Perhaps, only a fool.
While some Nigerians continue to console themselves and revel in uttering a brainless slogan ” it takes time to get it right under democracy”, they had continually (and deliberately) chosen to absolve their tormentors of abominable iniquities. They wouldn’t ask pertinent questions nor demand for accountability. They’ve never bothered to use their brains to ask if it takes time for those rogues and sycophants they’ve been voting for to loot and siphon trillions of naira meant for their generations unborn.
Under democracy, Nigerians continue to defend their persecutors whilst they languish and wallow in poverty – even more than slaves in some countries. Is 26 years 26 days or 26 months?. Nigeria’s case under democracy can only be compared to an infant who had been crawling but had never stood up to walk for once for 26 years. Again, Nigeria’s situation could be likened to a person who had been in a coma for 26 years. Without being sentimental, what’s the probably of a child who hadn’t walked for 26 years to eventually make it and walk?. Again, what’s the likelihood of someone in a coma, and whose heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, have continued to deteriorate for 26 years, eventually gaining consciousness?. That’s exactly the situation Nigeria is presently under democracy. The present levels of deterioration in insecurity, unemployment, poverty, inflation, etc, can only be compared with that of a patient in a coma, and whose organs are failing simultaneously. The tendency of making it out alive is almost zero.
For 26 years, Nigerians have been consoling themselves. For 26 years, they’ve been watching the same politicians rule over them like ogres and mephistopheles. For 26 years, they’ve been disenfranchised and treated like slaves in their own countries. For 26 year, they’ve been watching their family members die of hunger and preventable sicknesses. For 26 years, they’ve been watching “politics”, and how politicians abuse it as it now becomes the easiest way to becoming billionaires – even more easy than money ritual and bank robbery. For 26 years, they’ve been enduring with no constant electricity, no good road networks, no infrastructures, etc.
An average Nigerian celebrating democracy day could be likened to a parent celebrating a child who hasn’t walked for 26 years on his birthday, or a family celebrating a loved one in a coma with failed organs for the past 26 years. It is high time Nigerians began to reason like other humans in other continents ; not slaves. Nigerians should begin to emulate them in their reactions to hardship, pain and anti-people modi vivendi. Nigerians should begin to understand the fact that, being a negro is not a crime ; it’s an advantage. Hence, the difference in the color of our skins compared to theirs shouldn’t make the components of our brains differ from theirs.
Afterall, as of today, the compartmentalization and capacity of human brains are known to be the same regardless of the continent, tribe, etc. The only difference is that, Africans, Nigerians particularly, are bedevilled with a myopic mentality apparently initiated by religious and tribal affiliations. Again, more than 70 percent Nigerians don’t know that they naturally have a right to a good and healthy living, just like their fellow humans in other spheres of the world. It’s high time they began to hold their devourers accountable for impoverishing them and their unborn generations. They must know that having foods on their tables at all time is a right ; not a privilege. They must know that having access to good road networks with adequate security are fundamental rights ; not privileges. They should know that getting a job after graduation is a right ; not favor. They should be made aware that being paid wages and salaries worked for, are rights ; not favors.
They shouldn’t be hynotized and be praising presidency for granting NELFUND to vulnerable students. It’s their right ; not privileges. They shouldn’t be counting the 15 trillion naira Coastal Highway Project from Lagos to Calabar as an achievement under Tinubu’s administration. It’s their right ; not favor. They shouldn’t sing-praise Tinubu for paying IMF and other financial institutions some of the loans Nigeria has been servicing. Government is continuum. Nigerians must know that Tinubu inherited both liabilities and assets (like he also inherited a fleet of presidential jets and enjoying them all alone).
As it stands, Nigerian politicians are hiding under the whims and caprices of democracy to suffocate Nigerians. Despite what looks like horrendous performances so far, Tinubu wants a second term, and he wants it desperately. He has suddenly forgotten there is a “Law of Karma and Law of Reciprocity”. Mischievously, himself and his cohorts instigated Nigerians against Jonathan between 2011 – 2014. Tinubu particularly lead a series of protests when Jonathan attempted to remove fuel subsidy. He lead a ferocious protest when Jonathan attempted to increase a litre of fuel from N65 to N97. He was a pain in Jonathan’s skin for 4 consecutive years. He was busy championing different coalition movements against Jonathan. Then, he didn’t see any reason why Jonathan should be given a second chance in office to finish his projects. With passion, he hated Jonathan and amalgamated with different stakeholders across Nigeria. He felt Jonathan’s crimes were heinous and must never be forgiven. He succeeded. His coalition movements forced Jonathan’s abdication from Aso rock. His annointed candidate, Buhari, took over.
Today, exactly 10 years after, history is repeating itself and the Law of Karma is at work. Tinubu is exactly in the position Jonathan was in 2015. But, unlike Jonathan, Tinubu feels he’s a super human, and what he did to Jonathan must never be done to him by the opposition parties. He hates dissenting voices with passion. Unlike Jonathan who could only watch helplessly whilst Tinubu enjoyed the euphoria accompanying leading protests, he (Tinubu) has criminalized protest. The Nigerian police and the DSS wouldn’t hesitate to deal ruthlessly with civilians who dare to go to the streets – even if a litre of fuel is sold for N3000 and Nigerians’ blood is used to fuel Tinubu’s presidential jets.
Jonathan was just a lecturer, yet, he exemplified traits of a true democrat. He never criminalized protest. He never pushed Nigerians to the limit. He was a leader with human empathy. Despite his altruistic nature of approaching situations, Tinubu felt he didn’t deserve a second term in office and must relinquish his position. Today, under the same Tinubu many saw as a democrat and a replica of MKO Abiola and chief Obafemi Awolowo, journalists, activists, and writers with opposing views are being held in various prisons across the country. Tinubu wouldn’t interfere nor say a word. He has never ordered for the release of any. DSS, EFCC, and the Nigerian police, have become punitive agents against dissenting voices. It’s no surprising, that, under the watch of the self-acclaimed democrat, opposition parties are being crushed to dust, and their governors continue to decamp to APC because of fear of being rigged out of office.
In Rivers state, a constitutional governor was removed from office while the orchestrator of the problem, Nyesom Wike, is still busy working ardously to ensuring all opposition parties, including his own party, PDP, are fully crushed before 2027 – just to pave way for his principal, Tinubu. Or, what rationale is behind such an unholy alliance which necessitated Tinubu’s appointing the most vocal opposition member as FCT minister?. Is that politics or a treacherous scheme to ensure there’s no peace in PDP?. I means for a democrat?. Tinubu has just a simple mission for Wike : he (Wike) must wear down PDP and other opposition parties for his easy emergence in 2027.
Should we begin to visit what INEC, legislatures and the judiciary have become under the watch of our democrat as president?. Did Jonathan participate in gagging any of those highlighted institutions?. Would Tinubu and his cohorts have watched Jonathan attempted the anomalies we are presently witnessing under INEC and Judiciary?. Yet, Tinubu doesn’t want opposition parties to advocate for constitutional changes and reforms. His media aides have become attacking piranhas, and wouldn’t hesitate to dig their sharp incisors on whoever castigates their principal’s reforms and anti-democratic activities. Objectivism is lacking in their approach to pitiful situations. Whoever has a contrary opinion to the poverty ravaging Nigerians is a critic whose comments deserve to be thoroughly scrutinized by the DSS.
Under Tinubu’s watch, Akpabio has become a comedian with a penchant for mocking Nigerians’ excruciating pain. Under his nose, the House of Representative wanted to move to regulate social media, and also criminalize whosever insults or writes against politicians. Just few weeks ago, under his watch, and despite knowing Nigerians are visibly tired and discouraged and believe their votes no longer count, instead of overhauling INEC, Tinubu decided to watch as the House of Representative decided to pass a bill compelling Nigerians to vote. Althrough these anti-democratic postulations, Tinubu kept mum and never cautioned anyone. Were if not for public outcries and the International Communities, protesters sentenced to death for treason would have been executed. Underaged and innocent children held in various prisons for protesting against Tinubu’s anti-people schemes would still have remained incarcerated. Did Nigerians witness any of these during Jonathan’s regime?.
Worst of all, Tinubu wanted a one-party system. Few weeks ago , while showing his enthusiasm over high profile defections to APC, he publicly said there’s nothing wrong with one-party system. Can even a military dictator acknowledge that publicly?. Possibly, Tinubu also wanted to reign forever like other African presidents practicing pseudo-democracy are doing. My guess is that he wants to rule unopposed for over 40 years like Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo, etc.
He probably might have thought Nigeria can be remotely hijacked and controlled like those aforementioned dictators have been doing in their countries. He knows it won’t be easy as Nigerians are far more enlightened than the citizens of those countries. If he must achieve his one-party dream, then moles and scavengers must be planted in opposition camps – exactly like it’s being witnessed. He must hold firm to INEC and it must never be independent – like we are observing. The legislatures must be rubber-stamped gluttons, always ready to do his biddings – even if it means all of them would be re-elected . The judiciary must never be sanitized and independent ; always ready to compromise and help APC recover its mandate should INEC fails to do the job on the field – like we saw in 2023 election. The police and DSS must continue to incarcerate individuals and groups with contrary opinion and clamp on journalists, activists and writers – like we’ve persistently encountered since May 29, 2023. EFCC and ICPC must continue to spare politicians in APC but investigating politicians in other camps, a move which facilitated the recent surge in political realignment with APC. The axiom is simple : join APC and your sins shall be forgiven, and you can even become the next governor or senator of your state.
These and many more, are what Nigerians are celebrating today as democracy day. Unfortunately, APC supporters, many of whom should be shameful to defend their principals, are always quick-witted to defend them. Instead of channeling their frustration to the ones impoverishing them, they would rather prefer attacking the “obidient” movements on social media. How are the “obidient” movements responsible for hunger, inflation, insecurity, unemployment, etc?. Those are the kind of Nigerians we have in this sphere. Tribalism and religion have gotten their brains infiltrated with prejudice, lies and sentiments.
Of course, people in such category would have enjoyed the presidential speech, and probably are presently on different social media handles attacking and taunting Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and their supporters, for critiquing their principal who doesn’t know they even exist.
It’s well with Nigeria, but Nigerians are far from being well – particularly the supporters of the persecutors inflicting on them and their families poverty and misery.
(Akinropo Olufemi writes from Ibadan. He’s a writer and poet)
Jonathan is the best